China’s young snooker sensation Wu Yize etched his name in history by winning the 2026 World Snooker Championship, defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling final. At just 23, he becomes the first player born after 2000 to claim the sport’s biggest prize, and only the second Chinese player to win the world title, following Zhao Xintong.
The final, played over a maximum of 35 frames, was a tense marathon. After the opening session ended 4-4, Wu took control in the second to lead 10-7, aided by a century break of 103. Murphy fought back fiercely in the third, winning five straight frames to level, but Wu responded with three consecutive frames featuring breaks of 50-plus to edge ahead 13-12. In the decisive fourth session, Wu held his nerve to close out the victory.
Wu’s path to the final was equally dramatic. He swept past Lei Peifan 10-2 in the first round, edged four-time champion Mark Selby 13-11, and defeated Hossein Vafaei 13-8. In the semifinals, he trailed Mark Allen 16-14 before rallying to win three straight frames, clinching the match 17-16 with a clutch break of 71 to become the first post-2000 player to reach a world championship final.
With composure beyond his years and formidable skill, Wu Yize has announced himself as a new star in snooker. 
• First session: Wu won the opening three frames, but Murphy responded with four in a row. Wu took the eighth with a 65 break to level at 4-4.
• Second session: Wu compiled a 103 break and built a 10-7 lead.
• Third session: Murphy won five consecutive frames with four breaks of 50-plus, then Wu answered with three straight frames including three more 50+ breaks to lead 13-12.
• Fourth session: Wu held his nerve in the final frames to secure the historic title.
“I had to stay calm and trust my game,” Wu said after the match. “Winning the world championship is a dream come true.” The victory marks a major milestone for Chinese snooker, as Wu becomes the sport’s youngest world champion in over a decade.
